Mppt woes

[trevskoda]

Fortunately I don't have much in the spare cash department and what there is generally goes to support a couple of charities

Sorry i can not help, would if i could, maybe one will turn up.

 

[oppy]

Ok folks, thanks for all your help and advice, I've now ordered one and it will be here on Monday, so thanks again
Peter

 

[Robmac]

Ok folks, thanks for all your help and advice, I've now ordered one and it will be here on Monday, so thanks again
Peter

I'm sure you will know this Peter but just in case... connect the battery to the controller first then the solar panels to the controller is usually recommended.

 

[Geek]

Right, having said that my mppt unit was a con, I need to replace it, now the ones that I've seen all seem to use bluetooth stuff which a foreign area for me, any suggestions for one that a complete numpty can use ? adding though, for not too much dosh

Buy cheap, buy twice. Get a Victron, rated for what your panels supplies. Don't overspec the controller. Yes, they do have Bluetooth, but you can ignore it.

 

[barryd]

Buy cheap, buy twice. Get a Victron, rated for what your panels supplies. Don't overspec the controller. Yes, they do have Bluetooth, but you can ignore it.

You need to connect your phone to it though to set it up. Dead easy though.

 

[trevskoda]

You need to connect your phone to it though to set it up. Dead easy though.

Yep and oppy dont do smart phones, hence i said votronic.

 

[barryd]

Yep and oppy dont do smart phones, hence i said votronic.

I think he said he had been gifted one though but didn't know how to work it. I know where he is coming from. I loved my old controller with an LED screen but the bluetooth Victron is so much better and I am sure with our help he could get it up and running in no time at all and also be a convert. He can then join in the "how much charge have you got today" Thread

 

[Robmac]

I think he said he had been gifted one though but didn't know how to work it. I know where he is coming from. I loved my old controller with an LED screen but the bluetooth Victron is so much better and I am sure with our help he could get it up and running in no time at all and also be a convert. He can then join in the "how much charge have you got today" Thread

has he gone for the Victron Barry or the one in Merl's link?

 

[wildebus]

I find it funny and sad in equal measures when I read these comments about 'don't do bluetooth so no point in having it' and the advice thereafter.
If you take the Victron SmartSolar as an example, the bluetooth lets you - or someone else on your behalf who DOES actually do smartphones - configure the device in an optimum way, and to update the controller if there are improvements to the firmware for it.
Go for a 'dumb' unit and you are stuck with it and any improvements to the design will bypass you. Just because someone doesn't 'do' bluetooth doesn't mean the feature is of no use to them

 

[Robmac]

I find it funny and sad in equal measures when I read these comments about 'don't do bluetooth so no point in having it' and the advice thereafter.
If you take the Victron SmartSolar as an example, the bluetooth lets you - or someone else on your behalf who DOES actually do smartphones - configure the device in an optimum way, and to update the controller if there are improvements to the firmware for it.
Go for a 'dumb' unit and you are stuck with it and any improvements to the design will bypass you. Just because someone doesn't 'do' bluetooth doesn't mean the feature is of no use to them

I agree, there are plenty of people who would talk Peter through it or sort it at a meet.

 

[barryd]

has he gone for the Victron Barry or the one in Merl's link?

Not sure Rob.

 

[oppy]

Bloomin' 'eck !!!!! Yes I'm sorted now and no it's not a freebie, just a recommended one at a price that I can afford, and as I said before, thanks everyone for your advice and suggestions, but really I'm sure that I'm sorted now
luv n uggs
Peter

 

[merl]

Not sure Rob.

It's the one in the earlier link Barry https://amzn.eu/d/0PqiVkz
I originally suggested it was worth paying an extra £20 to get the Victron 5yr guarantee but thinking about it Peter needs the hassle of learning to use his first smartphone in order to programme and update his charge controller and sit watching his charge current going up and down about as much as he needs a broken leg.
He only needs to select his battery type to correctly configure it and it won't ever need updating so no need for Bluetooth for that either.